For the past seven or so years of my life, I have spent approximately 80% of my day running around.

In high school, I was going back and forth from school to dance class to work; college was my internship, classes, dance team practice and my bartending job.

Post-graduation is filled with work, coaching, blogging and spending time with my fiancé and my new pup.

I’ve 110% officially become a crazy dog mom, mind you … so literally almost every free second is spent researching things about raising a puppy … and buying unnecessary things like elf hats and dog couches).

Needless to say, the craziness has undoubtedly changed but has never died down.

Over the years, protein bars have always been my go-to when it comes to quick, nutritious options that can be taken on-the-go.

I mean, they’re SO convenient!

Throw a couple in your bag before running out of the house and your good to go.

That’s why they’ve become so popular in the weight room as well as the bottom-of-the-purse abyss (AKA the dark space of uncharted territory of any women’s bag).

In the past, I’ve always just checked to see how many calories it contained and then calculating if it was a reasonable amount considering my day’s agenda.

However, since becoming a health coach (and ultimately becoming more aware of the nutritional makeup of foods/products), I have started looking more carefully at labels.

Especially when consuming bars as a meal replacement or pre/post-workout nutrition.

It’s crucial to understand what you’re putting into your body.

There is SO much more to a product than its calorie count.

Now, whenever I’m looking at any product I consider a few things before I make a final decision on whether or not I would

A) Rebuy the product and

B) If I would recommend it to a client or reader.

These include taste, protein makeup, nutritional value and the quality of ingredients.

Unfortunately, a lot of protein bars tend to lack in the “taste” department.

Usually having a flavor that resembles artificially-flavored soggy cardboard.

In turn, the ones that DO have a yum-factor are typically chock-fulla sugars, unhealthy carbs and other fillers that make it nothing more than a glorified candy bar.

And the worst part? They can be EXPENSIVE as heck.

There’s nothing that makes me sadder than buying a box of bars that end up getting reluctantly choked down merely because you don’t want to waste the money.

I LOVE eating, and if I’m not enjoying it, it makes me one sad chica.

SO!

I’ve decided to do the hard part for you.

I know, you’re welcome. 🙂

I tried five popular vegan protein bars and provided my honest and true feedback.

I’ve presented my review in order of my favorite to least favorite product.

But first let’s talk a little bit more about why protien is such a big deal and what to look for in a protein bar, shall we?

Why You Need Protein To Get Your Dream Body

One of the best things you can do to help you both lose fat and gain muscle is to up your protein consumption!

It’s suggested that consuming between 25 – 30 grams of protein per meal is ideal for muscle growth. [1]

Protein has been proven to provide a number of health benefits, including:

Building Muscle Mass

Eating enough protein is a crucial step when trying to gain muscle, especially for those of you trying to build your glutes.

When your body is lacking amino acids (found in proteins), your body can suffer from muscle atrophy, the breaking down of muscle fibers in order to support energy needs of the body.

Protein also assists in muscle recovery as well after strenuous activities such as exercising.

Stabilizing Blood Sugars

Studies show that eating foods high in protein can slow down the absorption of sugar and help with the management of blood sugar spikes. [2]

This is especially important in the prevention of type 2 diabetes and balancing energy levels.

Promoting Brain Function

Enzymes, hormones and neurotransmitters are imperative for cognitive function.

The brain needs a consistent supply of amino acids to keep concentration and energy at its best.

Since they started in 2001, Vega has emerged on top for being groundbreakers in the world of plant-based natural health and performance products.

The company was founded by Brendan Brazier, a former professional Ironman triathlete, who was driven to influence the athletic world with vegan nutrition.

They strives to be a company that leaves a net-zero carbon footprint which is something I admire.

Nutrition: 9/10

This bar is a plant-based protein bar that includes 11 grams of protein and a number of essential nutrients such as vitamins A, C, D, E and K.

All the ingredients in Vega’s products are clean and certified organic whenever possible.

This product also contains a whole bunch of additional ingredients such as a variety of fruits and greens which could make this a great option for those who want to use this as a meal bar or pre-workout nutrition.

Since it contains approximately 25% of your daily needs of 11 types of vitamins and 11 grams of protein.

These bars can benefit in muscle building and body recovery as well.

The protein is derived from sprouted, organic peas and brown rice which is easily digested and provides sustainable energy to the body.

Flavor: 9.5/10

Mm, mmm, MMMM!

The best way to describe this bar would be a vegan version of a snickers bar. It’s rich, it’s chewy and it’s sweet.

There were real roasted peanuts on top and throughout which I was really digging.

I didn’t taste the peanut butter too, too much, but it was definitely there in a subtle way.

This bar seemed to almost melt in your mouth with every bite.

The dark chocolate coating gives a softer, sweeter texture while the nuts give a nice crunch that helps satisfy.

The chocolate coating does melt fairly quickly which can make it kind of a mess to consume on the go.

But since it helped curb my appetite for 2 – 3 hours, it was worth throwing one into my bag before I left the house for the day.

Since it reminded me so much of a candy bar, I’m not sure I’d be able to have it in first thing in the morning.

GARDEN OF LIFE SPORT PERFORMANCE PROTEIN BAR: CHOCOLATE MINT

Garden of Life is a natural supplement company that produces a number of health products such as protein powders, probiotics, multivitamin and green powder – all of which are USDA organic and non-GMO.

The company follows here principals when it comes to making their products:

The Science of Whole Foods

Clean is Healthy

Traceability

Garden of Life claims that their bars are “great for refueling and repairing muscles after a hard workout”

And are “made to eat anytime throughout the day to help achieve your daily protein intake while keeping you full.”

Nutrition : 10/10

Garden of Life is known to be the producer some of the cleanest health products on the market.

The calories are a little high in this particular bar, but it makes it an excellent option for pre- or post-workout.

It is low in sugar and has a nice fiber value as well.

What makes this bar stand out from its competitors is that it also contains over 3 grams of BCAA’s (Branched Chained Amino Acids).

These are the amino acids that are essential for muscle building and recovery.

An added bonus for anyone trying to tone up and lose weight.

Though it can be consumed at any point throughout the day, I would recommend enjoying this bar as a post-workout refuel option since it is a bit higher on the calories and carbohydrates.

It will help replenish your muscles and give you that boost of energy you crave, plus the fiber will help you feel fuller longer!

Another added benefit of fiber is that it helps feed “good” bacteria in the gut.

These bacteria have a dramatic effect on one’s health such as weight management, blood sugar control, brain function and immune function! [6][7]

Happy gut = Happy body!

I love that there is so much protein in this bar.

As an avid gym-goer it’s always important for me to have high protein options available to me post-workout.

And sometimes I’m just simply not feeling a standard protein shake.

Garden of Life gives me an alternative that is even more convenient!

I keep one of these in my bag to snack on while I’m running errands after finishing up my workout.

The macronutrient profile is balanced enough to keep my energy levels up and my belly full.

Flavor : 8.5/10

I thought this flavor was better than most chocolate mint flavors.

There was a delicate mint flavor which I think is better than feeling like you’ve been punched in the face with a tic-tac.

I will say that there was a slightly gritty texture which left a little bit of a chalky residue on the tongue while eating.

Though I consider this a very small price to pay for such a nutrient-dense snack.

It does have crunchy pieces in it which broke up the texture a little bit, but I found myself getting a little bit bored eating this (is that a thing?) and don’t think I would enjoy this flavor every single day.

I am very interested in tasting some of the other flavors though!

Overall it was very soft, not bendy or super chewy and it doesn’t stick to teeth like some other bars.

I also really liked that this isn’t a protein bar that is wrapped up in a chocolate coating.

I left it in my bag at work next to my foot heater, and it didn’t melt, which is fabulous for those on-the-go who toss a bar into their bag and walk out the door.

The plant-based protein makeup even includes chia seeds, which is a considerably beneficial added nutrient to any diet.

Flavor: 8.5/10

I thought this bar was pretty good overall!

If you are a caramel fan, you will LOVE this product.

It was soft, pretty dense and somewhat chewy (similar to a cookie dough consistency).

Plus it had ribbons of smooth, gooey dark chocolate and caramel throughout.

It was not sickeningly sweet, but sweet enough that it was easy to forget you were eating a protein bar.

As you bite, it bursts in your mouth giving you a nice silky texture of sweet caramel.

The flavor of the cashews and almonds combined with the sea salt was a little overbearing to the caramel, which could be a disappointment to some.

Fair warning, I found that chips melt a bit in the packaging, so it gives you a messy adventure unless you eat it in the wrapper!

Also, due to the nut butter ingredients, these bars get a little bit oily which may be another turnoff if you plan on keeping these bars in the car while running errands, or to keep as a snack in your gym bag.

I actually took these bars and broke them into small little chunks and mixed them into my oatmeal – DELISH!

It was a great way to add some texture and flavor to my oatmeal while giving it some much-needed protein.